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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WnSTER.N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)S72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


»-» 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniqua*  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  itA  poasibia  da  sa  procurar.  Lat  details 
da  cat  axamplaira  <;ui  sont  paut-*trff<  .  tiiquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  p^uvant  modifiar 
una  image  raproduita.  ou  qui  pauw«nt  axigar  una 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normala  da  filmaga 
sont  indiqu4s  ci-daaaoua. 


□   Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  coulaur 

r~~j   Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 

D 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  pelliculie 


I — I   Cover  title  miasing/ 


La  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□   Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  giographiquea  an  coule.<r 


D 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I — I   Coloured  plataa  and/or  iilustrationa/ 


Planchea  et/ou  iilustrationa  wx  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avac  d'autrea  documents 


Pght  binding  may  cauae  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  paut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  i«  long  de  la  marge  intirieura 

Blank  laavaa  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainaa  pagea  blanchea  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxte, 
mala,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  «t4  filmAas. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantaires  supplAmantairas; 


□   Coloured  pagea/ 
Pagea 


El 
D 
0 

D 
0 
D 
D 


n 


Pagea  da  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pagea  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtea  et/ou  pelliculAea 

Pagea  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dAcolories.  tachetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachias 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  inigala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matirial  suppl4mentaira 


|~n   Only  edition  available/ 


Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totaiament  ou  partiallement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  una  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At*  filmtes  i  nouveau  da  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  hat  bean  r«produe«d  thanks 
to  th«  ganarMlty  of: 

Douglas  Library 
Quaan's  University 


L'axemplaira  fllm4  f ut  raproduit  grica  i  la 
g4n4roaM  de: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 


The  images  appeering  here  are  the  beet  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  leglbilltv 
of  the  originel  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specif icetlone. 


Original  copies  in  printed  peper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impree- 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  AH 
other  originel  coplee  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  pege  with  e  printed  or  illustreted  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  print«;d 
or  Hlustratad  impression. 


Lee  Images  suhrentee  ont  4t4  reproduites  evec  ie 
plus  grand  soln,  compta  tenu  de  Ie  condition  et 
de  ki  nettetA  de  i'exemplaire  fllm«,  et  en 
conformity  evec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fllmage. 

Lee  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprlmAe  sent  filmto  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plot  et  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
demlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impreealon  ou  d'H'/ustratlon,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cae.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
orlglnsux  sont  film4is  sn  commenpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreeelon  ou  d'lllustretion  et  en  terminent  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — i^  (meening  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  ▼  (meening  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darnlAre  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  Ie 
cas:  la  symbols  -^  signlfle  "A  SUIVRE".  Ie 
symbols  ▼  signlfie  "FIN". 


Meps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  lerge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hend  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framae  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmis  i  des  tsux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grend  pour  Atre 
reproiduit  en  un  soul  clichA,  II  est  flL^A  i  partir 
de  I'engle  supArieur  geuche,  de  geuche  i  droite, 
et  de  heut  en  bes,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'Images  nicesseire.  Les  diegrammes  suivants 
illustrsnt  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

"%ms  <^hml  anh  Mm  €xmM: 


n 


A   SERMON 


•  f  •  •  » 


•  •      • 

•  «  •  •  t 

•  ••(:> 


PREACHED  ON  SUNDAY  NOV.  27,  1853,  AFTER  HIS 

INSTALLATION,  .'•" 


!••••  ••••• 


BY 


•  •  •  •  • 


«  •  •  •  • 


•  •  •  •  • 

-  •  *  _ 


•  •  »  •  • 


JOHN    JENKINS, 


I    ^      1 


«    •    •   •   • 

•    •    •   • 


MINISTER  OF   THE   CALVARY  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    rHlIjAWA- 


I 

b  *  «    »  » 


•    *   •  •  t 


•  •  • 

•  «   «  «  • 

«   «    •  •    > 

•  *    9  *    i 


•  •  9 

•  •   «  *  • 

•  • 

•  •  » 

•  •  «  •   • 

•  •    «  ft 


•    •    «  • 


^ 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED     BY     ISAAC      ASHMEAD. 

MONTREAL:    B.    DAWSON. 

1853. 


■J  5 


/ 


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•  •  • 
•  • « ■  I 


"111 


( t  ff  •  ff 


•  *  •  • « 

•  >  •  •  • 

•  •  t  • » 
• « « • 


VII      »    I 


•     •    •     4    ti 


•    *     •   • 

i 


J 


A  SERMON. 


"I  DETERMINED  NOT   TO   KNOW  ANYTHING   AMONG  YOU,  SAVE 

JESUS  CHRIST,  AND  HIM  CRUCIFIED."—!  Corinthians,  ii.  2. 


A  MERELY  literary  student  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment who  should  read  this  determination  without 
knowing  which  of  the  apostles  was  its  author, 
would  suspect  any  one  of  them  rather  than  Paul. 
To  him,  it  would  sound  more  like  the  utterance 
of  an  unlettered  fisherman,  than  like  that  of  a 
finished  scholar  whose  privilege  it  had  been  to 
sit  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel.  It  would  puzzle  him 
to  know  why  a  man  of  letters  and  of  taste,  a  man, 
moreover,  of  more  than  usually  intellectual  emi- 
nence, and  thoroughly  versed  in  the  various  sys- 
tems of  philosophy  which  were  then  prevalent, 
should  have  come  to  so  extraordinary  a  conclusion; 
especially  when  he  considered  that  the  apostle  was 
addressing  educated  Greeks.  If,  through  lack  of 
early  literary  advantages  and  present  intellectual 
vigour,  he  had  been  driven  to  the  necessity  of  harp- 
ing upon  one  subject,  it  would  not  have  been  so 
surprising  to  our  literary  friend,  but  it  lies  bevond 


d 


ip.6  70  sy 


w 


JESUS  CHRIST  AND 


the  compass  of  his  natural  reason  to  understand, 
why  that  doctrine  of  Christianity,  which  of  all 
others  is  clothed  with  greatest  shame,  which  was 
an  offence  to  the  Jew,  which  was  foolishness  to  the 
Greek,  should  be  selected  by  a  man  whom  every 
one  acknowledges  to  have  been  intellectually  great, 
as  the  all-absorbing  theme  of  his  ministrations. 
Yet,  so  it  was :  "  I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you, 
came  not  with  excellency  of  speech  or  of  wisdom 
declaring  unto  you  the  testimony  of  God ;  for  I  de- 
termined not  to  know  anything  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified." 

Who  will  deny  that  there  are  men  in  our  own 
day  who  thus  argue?  If  a  minister  express  and 
fulfil  a  resolution  equivalent  to  that  of  the  text;  if, 
in  his  ministrations,  he  is  accustomed  to  give  pro- 
minence to  the  necessity  of  a  Savioui',  to  the  divi- 
nity of  Christ,  to  the  humanity  and  condescension 
of  Christ,  to  the  sacrifice  and  atonement  of  Christ ; 
if  he  is  wont  to  impart  a  Christ-i^n  hue  to  all  his 
expositions  and  predilections ;  if  it  is  his  habit  to 
constitute  Christ  the  sole  centre  of  his  theology,  of 
his  morals,  of  his  philosophy ;  there  are  not  want- 
ing those  who  are  ready  to  pronounce  him  unlet- 
tered and  unfurnished.  In  their  estimation,  the 
educated  minister,  the  man  of  talent,  of  taste  and 
of  reading,  the  man  who  is  "  up  with  the  age,"  will 
not  be  ever  dwelling  upon  evangelical  themes;  he 


' 


HIM   CRUCIFIED. 


will  diversify  his  preaching  with  essays  on  mora- 
lity, and  even  on  abstruse  questions  in  metaphysics ; 
he  will  charm  the  ears  of  the  literati  of  his  congrega- 
tion with  speculations  in  philosophy ;  he  will  come 
before  them  with  "  excellency  of  speech"  and  will 
instruct  them  through  the  medium  of  "  enticing 
words  of  man's  wisdom."  Unhappily,  ministers,  am- 
bassadors of  Christ,  who  at  their  ordination  solemnly 
vowed  to  be  "zealous and  faithful  in  maintaining  the 
truths  of  the  Gospel,"  have  pandered  to  the  mise- 
rable taste  of  the  day,  and  have  neglected  Christ 
and  their  hearers'  salvation.  In  their  attempts  to 
be  refined  and  philosophical,  they  have  failed  to  be 
faithful  and  evangelical. 

We  would  not  advocate  a  style  of  preaching 
which  like  the  railroad  train,  maintains  one  unde- 
viating  track;  which  confines  itself  to  one  set  of 
phrases  and  employs  but  one  class  of  illustrations  ; 
that  se-saw  preaching  (if  you  will  allow  me  the  use 
of  a  vulgar  phrase,)  which  fastens  upon  one  or  two 
favorite  doctrines,  and  never  expands  itself  to  em- 
brace the  varied  glories  and  beauties,  the  endless 
varieties  of  evangelical  truth.  Those  who  imagine 
Paul  to  have  adopted  such  a  course,  misunderstand 
both  the  apostle  and  the  Gospel.  What  meant  he 
when  he  exclaimed,  "  I  determined  not  to  know 
anything  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified  ?"     Was  it  that  he  would  neglect  other 


JE8U3   CHRIST  AND 


I- 


truths  ?  that  he  would  forget  to  expound  the  nature 
of  God,  or  the  duties  of  man?  that  he  would  avoid 
discussions  in  moral  law  and  in  moral  philosophy  ? 
No  !  He  rather  meant  to  assert  that  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  Jesus  crucified  is  the  grand,  central  doctrine 
of  all  religion.  *  -  • 

This  is  the  subject  to  which  I  have  resolved  to 
draw  your  attention  this  evening.  It  is  only  fitting 
that,  in  this  the  first  discourse  I  preach  to  you 
after  my  installation  as  your  minister,  I  should  dis- 
tinctly announce  the  principles  upon  which  I  pro- 
pose to  base  my  public  ministration  amongst  you ; 
that  I  should  declare  what  teaching  you  are  to  ex- 
pect from  this  sacred  desk,  and  what  you  are  not  to 
expect.  It  is  right  that  I  should  disclose  the  vein 
which  will  run  through  my  expositions  of  the  word 
of  God,  that  I  should  unfold  the  hue  which  I  pur- 
pose on  all  occasions  to  impart  to  them.  I  can 
truly  ^ay,  that  when  I  came  to  you  four  Sabbaths 
ago,  I  determined,  should  arrangements  be  com- 
pleted for  my  settlement  among  you,  to  preach  only 
Christ ;  I  determined,  by  the  help  of  God's  grace, 
to  become  an  unworthy  follower  of  the  great  apos- 
tle, and  to  "know  nothing  among  you  but  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified."  If  any  persons  are  ex- 
pecting that  here,  man,  fallen  and  corrupt  man,  will 
be  represented  as  possessing  an  inherent  power  of 
saving   his  own  soul,  any  power  at  all,  indeed, 


I 


HIM   CRUCIFIED. 


Q  nature 
Id  avoid 
jsophy  ? 
•trine  of 
doctrine 

•Ived  to 
■  fitting 
to  you 
lid  dis- 
i  I  pro- 
Jt  you ; 
!  to  ex- 
I  not  to 
le  vein 
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I  pur- 
I  can 
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com- 
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?race, 
apos- 
Jesus 
•e  ex- 
i,  will 
^er  of 
deed, 


I 


I 


which  he  has  not  derived  from  the  grace  of  Christ, 
and  from  the  quickening  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
they  will  be  wholly  deceived.     Equally  mistaken 
will  they  be  who  imagine  that  I  have  consented  to 
occupy  this  sacred  desk  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
tracting the  glory  and  the    grace  of  Christ  by 
preaching  any  other  than  a  free  and  a  full  Gospel. 
God  forbid  that  I  should  ever  be  found  detracting 
from  the  grace  and  efficacy — from  the  infinitude  of 
the  atonement,  by  limiting  its  extent !     Not  less 
disappointed  will  they  be  who  suppose  that  I  have 
come  amongst  you  to  preach  series  after  series  of 
elaborately  wrought  discourses  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  together  only  the  elite  of  a  neighborhood, 
and  so  of  building  up  a  fashionable  congregation. 
Those  who  look  for  such  things  will  not  find  them 
here.    Those,  moreover,  who  seek  for  the  settlement 
of  nice  theological  questions,  or  of  still  nicer  eccle- 
siastical  claims,  who  expect  erudite   exegeses  of 
controverted  texts,  or  labored  disquisitions  in  the 
metaphysics  of  theology,  will  not  find  them  here ; 
this  is  not  the  fountain  from  which  will  flow  such 
streams  as  these.     Our  motto  is,  "  a  plain  gospel 
FOR  ALL  classes;" — for  rich  and  poor,  for  intel- 
lectual and  simple,  for  educated  and  illiterate ; — one 
Gospel  for  the  graduate  in  arts,  and  the  child  in  the 
Sunday  School; — one  Gospel  for  all. 
We  return  from  this  digression  to  repeat  the  as- 


JKHU8   CilRlHT   AND 


sertion  which  we  just  now  based  upon  the  text,— 
that  the  doctrine  of  a  crucified  Jesus  is  the  central 
orb  of  the  Christian  system  upon  which  its  every 
other  doctrine  is  suspended,  and  to  which  its  every 
other  doctrine  is  attracted.  You  cannot  find  me  a 
single  truth  in  our  religion  which  does  not  draw  its 
light,  its  beauty,  ivs>  power,  from  the  cross  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  several  doctrines  of  reli- 
gion hang  around  the  glorious  cross,  as  the  planet- 
ary orbs  hang  around  the  sun;  they  are  bright, 
because  they  are  connected  with  the  cross ;  they 
illuminate  our  dark  hearts  because  they  borrow 
their  light  from  the  cross ;  they  are  harmonious, 
because  the  mighty  cross, — that  vast  orb  of  truth, 
"  Christ  and  him  crucified," — causes  them,  by  its 
gravitating  power  to  pursue  undeviatingly  their 
respective  circuits  in  the  system  of  truth.  Let  me 
furnish  two  or  three  illustrations : 

The  doctrine  of  God's  nature,  if  I  may  so  ex- 
press myself,  is  a  leading  doctrine  of  religion.  It 
is  indeed  the  primary  lesson  in  the  communication 
of  religious  knowledge.  To  know  God  in  his  at- 
tributes ;  to  apprehend  the  glory,  the  purity,  the 
benignity  of  his  character ;  so  to  apprehend  his 
nature  as  that  our  hearts  and  our  actions  shall  be 
legitimately  influenced  by  our  convictions  of  its 
supreme  holiness,  is  a  chief  part  of  religion. 
Where  am  I  to  acquire  this  knowledge  ?     To  what 


I 
I 


IIIM   CRUCIFIED. 


4 


I 


instructor  am  I  to  apply  for  the  fullest  acquaintance 
with  the  Divine  character  which  it  is  possible  to 
obtain  in  this  world  ?  Shall  I  go  to  creation,  to  the 
magnificent  works  of  God's  hands  by  which  I  am 
surrounded  ?  I  will  not  be  slow  lo  confess  that  I  see 
much  here  which  illustrates  the  nature  of  God. 
Those  everlasting  hills,  those  rocks  of  granite  the 
pillars  of  our  earth,  tell  me  of  His  power;  those 
vast  and  impenetrable  forests,  those  unfathomable 
seas  proclaim  that  He  is  omnipotent.  I  learn  from 
these  His  eternal  power  and  Godhead.  I  take  up  a 
shell  from  the  beach  or  a  twig  from  the  forest,  or  a 
simple  leaf  as  it  strays  away  from  its  parent  branch, 
and  I  see  enough  to  tell  me  that  the  Creator  is  in- 
finite in  wisdom.  I  mark  the  rich  provisions  of 
nature  in  the  changes  of  the  seasons,  in  the  distil- 
lations of  the  dew,  in  the  descent  of  the  rains,  in 
the  intervention  of  the  clouds,  and  I  learn  lessons 
in  God's  infinite  benevolence.  And  when  I  look 
above  and  survey  those  beauteous  orbs  of  light 
which  an  infinite  intelligence  has  hung  up  in  the 
heavens,  I  say  with  David,  "  The  heavens  declare 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament  showeth  his 
handy  work."  But  is  this  all  that  I  can  know  of 
God?  There  is  yet  within  my  heart  a  void  which 
is  not  filled ;  there  are  yet  cravings  in  this  immor- 
tal part  which  this  knowledge  does  not  satisfy ; 
my  conscience  tells  me  that  I  am  a  sinner;  my 


10 


JE8LS   CHRIST   AND 


conscience  suggests  to  me  a  question  which  nature 
in  its  varied  glory  and  bounty  has  not  yet  answered  ; 
it  is  this :  "  How  can  I,  as  a  sinner,  meet  an  all- 
powerful,  an  all-righteous,  an  all-wise,  or  even  an 
infinitely  benevolent  Being?"     The  book  of  nature 
cannot  tell  me.     There  is  not  a  sun  that  shines  in 
any  one  of  the  innumerable  systems  with  which  the 
heavens  are  studded,  that  can  tell  me.     The  highest 
mountain  that  rears  its  head  towards  God's  dwell- 
ing place  is  silent  here.     I  go  in  vain  to  the  shores 
of  either  the  wild  Atlantic  or  the  broad  Pacific  for 
an  answer  to  the  question.     Is  there  then  nothing 
more  to  be  known  of  God?     Must  my  troubled 
conscience  remain  in  suspense,  in  despondency,  yea 
even  in  despair?     No!  I  may  know  more  of  God. 
He  has  given  me  another  book  besides  the  book  of 
nature.     He  has  given  me  this  Bible  of  Revelation ; 
I  open  its  pages.     I  find  that  it  does  not  contradict, 
but  that  it  confirms  the  utterances  of  the  Bible  of 
nature.     I  find  here,  too,  that  "a  God  of  truth  and 
without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  He," — that  He  is 
"  glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in  praises,  doing  won- 
ders;" but  I  find  also  other  disclosures  of  the  Divine 
character.    I  here  read,  that  He  is  "the  Lord,  the 
Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffering 
and  abundant  in  goodness ;"  and  if  you  ask  me 
where  I  find  the  brightest  display  of  this  wonderful 
attribute  of  the  Divine  character,  upon  what  leaf 


1 


HTM   CRUCIFIED.  11 

in  this  large  volume  I  learn  most  of  God's  mercy  to 
sinners,  I  reply,  upon  that  leaf  whose  lines  I  read 
out  to  you  this  evening,  that  leaf  v^^hich  contains 
the  wonderful  story  of  the  cross, — of  Christ,  the 
God-man,  bleeding,  agonizing,  expiring  upon  the 
cross.— It  is  here  I  learn  that  "  God  is  love."  It  is 
upon  Calvary,  in  the  midst  of  its  murderous  scenes, 
that  I  see  how  God  can  be  "just  ^ad  yet  the  justifier 
of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus."  Not  only,  then,  do 
I  discover  the  infinite  compassion  of  the  Divine 
Being  when  I  gaze  upon  the  crucified  Son  of  God, 
but  I  learn  also  his  infinite  purity  and  his  unbending 
justice.  The  thunderings  of  Sinai  even,  give  no 
such  impressive  lessons  of  the  Divine  righteousness 
and  truth,  as  the  groans  of  the  Son  of  God  on  Cal- 
vary. When  I  read  the  words  which  Jehovah  in- 
scribed upon  the  tables  of  the  Decalogue,  I  am 
filled  with  reverence  of  the  Divine  purity,  but  I 
seem  to  be  inspired  with  a  yet  deeper  feeling  of  awe 
when  I  listen  to  that  mysterious  utterance  of  Christ 
upon  the  cross,  "  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me." 

"Part  of  thy  name  divinely  stands  • 

On  all  thy  creatures  writ, 
They  shov/  the  labour  of  thy  hands, 
Or  impress  of  thy  feet. 

"  But  when  we  view  thy  strange  design 
To  save  rebellious  worms ; 
There  vengeance  and  compassion  join, 
In  their  divinest  forms, 


12 


JESUS   CHRIST   AND 


i    If 


li! 


"  Here  the  whole  Deity  i8  known, 
Nor  dares  a  creature  guess, 
Which  of  the  glories  brighter  shone, 
The  justice  or  the  grace." 

If  then,  in  the  course  of  my  ministrations,  I  shall 
have  to  speak  to  you  of  the  glory  of  the  Divine 
character ;  if  I  am  to  present  to  your  contempla- 
tion the  endless  perfections  of  the  Supreme  Being ; 
if  I  am  to  exhibit  God  in  his  purity,  in  his  wisdom, 
in  his  power,  in  his  mercy ;  and  if  I  am  to  show 
the  undivided  harmony  in  which  these  perfections 
concentrate  in  Him,  you  will  see  that  I  can  only  do 
this  within  the  region  of  Calvary,  only  by  adhering 
to  the  determination  of  the  apostle,  "  not  to  know 
anything  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified." 

The  doctrine  of  man,  if  I  may  so  express  my- 
self, of  man's  nature,  of  man's  relation  to  God,  of 
man's  wants,  of  man's  destiny,  is  another  principal 
doctrine  of  religion.  Indeed,  you  could  not  supply 
a  more  comprehensive  definition  of  what  religion  is 
than  to  say,  that  it  is  a  knowledge  of  God  in  his 
character  and  bis  requirements;  and  a  knowledge 
of  man's  self  in  his  nature,  his  relations,  and  his 
duties. 

But  where  am  I  to  know  what  man  is?  Shall  I 
subject  him  to  a  metaphysical  anatomy  ?  I  learn 
from  this  the  phenomena  of  his  mind ;  I  gather 
what  are  its  powers  and  its  susceptibilities ;  I  mark 


I 


niM   CRUCIFIED. 


13 


its  sensations  and  its  internal  affections.  But  how 
does  this  help  me  to  arrive  at  a  religious  view  of 
man's  nature?  Again:  By  observation  and  expe- 
riment I  learn  that  the  mind  of  man  is  corrupt,  that  it 
is  thoroughly  disordered,  that  he  is  not  living  so  as  to 
secure  the  favour  of  a  holy  God,  but  this  knowledge 
does  not  reveal  to  me  either  the  origin  or  the  nature 
of  sin.  It  was  ignorance  of  this  truth  that  consti- 
tuted man  the  most  difficult  problem  which  the  an- 
cient philosophers  had  to  solve ;  man  as  they  found 
him  ;  man  who  saw  the  right,  wl  o  acknowledged 
the  excellence  of  virtue  and  the  perniciousness  of 
vice,  and  yet  pursued  the  wrong;  man  for  whose 
guidance  and  restraint  they  concocted  whole  sys- 
tems  of  moral  philosophy,  whose  laws  he  as  speed- 
ily infringed.  By  my  process  of  anatomy  I  also 
discover  some  imperfect  traces  of  immortality,  but 
they  are  so  obscure  that  it  becomes  difficult  to  de- 
termine whether  the  mind  is  annihilated  at  death 
or  lives  for  ever.  Where  can  I  obtain  a  knowdedge 
of  man  ?  Only  in  the  word  of  God.  Here  I  learn 
the  circumstances  and  design  of  his  creation.  Here 
I  read  of  his  fearful  fall  from  rectitude  and  from 
God.  Here  is  revealed  to  me  the  heinous  character 
of  sin.  Here  I  am  informed  of  the  certain  conse- 
quences of  sin.  Here  God  hath  revealed  his  wrath 
from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unright- 
eousness of  men.    Here  I  discover  the  immortality 


i  I 


14 


JESUS  CHRIST   AND 


M  I 


of  man's  destiny;  and  there  is  no  light  in  which  I 
read  these  truths  so  clearly  as  the  light  of  the  cross. 
It  is  when  I  survey  the  infinite  character  of  Christ's 
sacrifice,  that  I  begin  to  apprehend  the  evil  of  sin. 
It  is  when  I  see  the  Eternal  Son  of  God  humbling 
himself  unto  death,  that  I  begin  to  appreciate  the 
true  value  of  man.  It  is  here,  on  the  cross,  it  is  by 
the  doctrine  of  Christ  Jesus  and  him  crucified,  that 
"life  and  immortality  are  brought  to  light."  If, 
then,  I  am  to  teach  you  lessons  in  humanity ;  if  I 
am  to  disclose  to  you  the  sinfulness  of  man's  na- 
ture ;  if  I  am  to  unfold  the  value  of  the  human  soul ; 
if  it  will  be  my  duty  to  remind  you  frequently  of 
man's  high  and  holy  destiny,  and  if  I  am  to  dis- 
course of  God's  mindful  regard  of  the  human  race, 
you  will  agree  with  me  that  I  shall  do  all  this  most 
effectually  by  determining  "  not  to  know  anything 
among  you  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified." 

But  it  will  be  well  for  us  to  follow  out  a  little 
more  closely,  one  branch  of  this  subject.  I  have 
spoken  of  man's  fall  and  of  his  destiny ;  these  sug- 
gest a  consideration  of  his  spiritual  wants.  By  his 
estrangement  from  God,  I  learn  man's  need  of  re- 
conciliation ;  by  the  sinfulness  of  his  nature,  I  learn 
his  need  of  regeneration  ;  by  the  immortality  of  his 
destiny,  I  learn  his  need  of  eternal  redemption. 
These  three  blessings  exhaust  the  catalogue  of 
human  necessities.  But  where  am  I  to  gain  a  know- 


HIM   CRUCIFIED. 


15 


which  I 
le  cross. 
Christ's 
I  of  sin. 
imbling 
Late  the 
it  is  by 
ed,  that 

Lt."      If, 

y;  if  I 
m's  na- 

m  soul; 

ently  of 

to  dis- 
m  race, 
lis  most 
lything 
fied." 

a  little 

I  have 
5se  sug- 

By  his 
i  of  re- 

I  learn 
^  of  his 
mption. 
•gue  of 
\  know- 


ledge of  them  ?  of  these  doctrines  of  reconciliation, 
and  renewal,  and  eternal  life?  these  doctrines  of 
" righteousness, and  sanctification,and  redemption?" 
We  have  already  shown  you  that  on  these  subjects, 
nature  maintains  an  unbroken  silence ;  it  is  equally 
evident  that  uninspired  history  casts  not  a  ray  upon 
them  ;  and  as  to  tradition,  its  light  is  so  feeble  as  to 
make  the  darkness  more  obscure  and  the  path  less 
certain.  To  whom  then  shall  I  go  for  instruction 
in  these  things,  but  to  God  in  his  revealed  Word  ? 
And  where,  in  the  revelations  ot  God  but  in  the 
Gospel,  and  where  in  the  Gospel,  but  in  the  doc- 
trine of  Christ  crucified  am  I  to  find  a  perfect  dis- 
closure of  these,  to  me,  momentous  truths?  "Lord, 
to  whom  should  we  go  but  unto  thee  ?  Thou  hast 
the  words  of  eternal  life." 

We  will  attempt  a  yet  more  practical  considera- 
tion of  these  truths.  Estrangement  from  God  will  be 
the  natural  condition  of  every  man,  woman  and  child 
who  may  sit  under  the  ministry  of  the  Word  in 
this  sanctuary.  Every  one,  therefore,  will  need 
personal  reconciliation  with  God.  What,  then,  have 
I  to  do,  as  a  Christian  ambassador,  but  to  direct 
every  man  to  the  Cross,  to  Christ  Jesus  and  him 
crucified  ?  It  will  be  at  my  peril  to  know  any  thing 
in.  this  matter  but  Christ.  What  have  I  to  do  but 
to  proclaim  to  every  one  who  will  consent  to  listen 
to  my  voice,  "On  the  cross  the  Lamb  of  God  was 


p^ 


16 


JESUS   CHRIST  AND 


ii| 


m\ 


slain  for  thy  sins,  and  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world ;  on   that  cross  the  handwriting  that  was 
against  thee,  that  long,  black  catalogue  of  personal 
sins  was  nailed  in  triumph  by  thy  Lord ;  on  that 
cross  thy  Redeemer  acquired  the  right  to  dispense 
to  every  man  the  blessings  of  repentance  and  for- 
giveness, and  by  that  cross,  God  the  offended,  and 
thou  the  offender,  may  be  reconciled  ?     By  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified,  the  Divine  Being  may 
maintain  the  claims  of  his  justice  and  yet  extend 
mercy  to  sinful  thee."     It  is  thus,  dear  brethren, 
that  we  propose,  by  God's  blessing,  to  know  no- 
thing among  you  in  the  reconciliation  of  the  sinner, 
but  our  crucified  and  glorious,  our  merciful  and 
exalted  Jesus ; 

«'  Only  Jesus  will  we  know, 
And  Jesus  crucified." 

And  because  every  one  who  comes  to  this  house 
to  worship  will  possess  a  heart  wholly  corrupt  and 
polluted,  and  will  therefore  need  the  gift  and  bless- 
ing of  a  holy  renewal,  I  see  additional  reason  for 
carrying  out  this  Apostolic  determination.  What 
can  effectually  touch  that  polluted  spirit  ?  What 
can  wash  away  those  crimson  stains  but  the  blood 
of  a  crucified  Jesus  ?  Ah  !  I  see  in  that  precious 
blood  an  efficacy  so  vast,  as  that  it  could  now  make 
as  white  as  snow  every  sinful  spirit  in  this  house ; 
"  in  this  house,"  did  I  say  ?     Yea,  in  this  whole 


}  whole 
lat  was 
)ersonal 
on  that 
ispense 
ind  for- 
ed,  and 
y  Jesus 
g  may 
extend 
ethren, 
ow  no- 
sinner, 
'ul  and 


J  house 

ipt  and 

1  bless- 

son  for 

What 

What 

3  blood 

recious 

V  make 

house ; 

whole 


UIM   CRUCIFIED.  1" 

world !  Whither  then,  but  to  the  cross ;  whither, 
but  to  the  fountain-side  of  Jesus  which  was  opened 
for  sin  and  for  uncleanness,  should  I  lead  you  for 
sanctification  unto  life  ?  "  The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  God 
forbid  that  I  should  know  any  thing  among  you  in 
your  sanctification,  save  "Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified !" 

But  man  is  immortal,  and  needs,  therefore,  more 
than  reconciliation  and  sanctification ;  he  needs 
endless  salvation.  This  will  be  the  need  of  every 
man  whom  it  shall  be  my  lot  to  address.  Whither 
then  shall  I  lead  him  ?  By  what  means  shall  I 
encourage  him  to  hope  that  eternal  life  will  be  the 
lot  of  every  faithful  and  persevering  believer  ?  I 
still  adhere  to  Paul's  determination,  "  not  to  know 
anything  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified."  Do  I  need  salvation  unto  life  eternal? 
When  I  gaze  upon  the  Son  of  God  hanging  on  the 
cross,  and  see  him  bowing  his  head,  and  with  the 
last,  lingering,  expiring  cry  of  "  it  is  finished," 
giving  up  the  ghost,  it  is  then  I  learn  that  my 
salvation  is  completed,  that  the  work  is  finished, 
and  that  my  gracious  Saviour  hath  obtained  eter- 
nal redemption  for  me.  I  look  upon  the  cross,  and 
I  see  it  so  radiant  with  the  Father's  love,  that  I  am 
encouraged  to  exclaim,   "  He  that  spared  not  his 

own  Son,  but  freely  gave  up  him  for  us  all,  how 
3 


*( 


18 


JESUS  CHRIST  AND 


It 


shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give"  us  redemp- 
tion unto  life?  I  see  myself  a  vile  and  sinful 
enemy  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  when  I  am 
accepted  through  its  sacrifice,  I  am  emboldened  to 
say,  "If  when  we  were  enemies  we  were  reconciled 
to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son,  much  more  being 
reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  through  his  life." 

I  have  spoken  of  man's  wants ;  but  religion  con- 
templates also  man's  obligations.  And  here  I 
might  show  you  how  great  a  power  the  sanctions 
of  morality  receive  from  the  doctrine  of  "  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified."  I  might  remind  you  of 
the  rigorous  demands  of  the  Divine  law  exempli- 
fied by  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  Christ.  I  might 
point  out  to  you  that  matchless  combination  of 
purity  and  obedience  which  resided  in  the  Saviour 
of  men,  and  which  constituted  him  a  perfect  exam- 
ple of  morality.  And  I  might  speak  of  that  inward 
moral  strength  which  is  communicated  to  all  those 
who  heartily  believe  the  doctrine  of  Christ  cruci- 
fied— that  sanctifying  living  power  which  leads  to 
obedience  and  practical  holiness.  Christ  crucified 
and  practical  sanctification  are  joined  by  indissolu- 
ble bonds.  How  beautifully,  how  expressively  is 
this  presented  to  us  by  the  author  of  my  text,  in 
his  Epistle  to  the  Galatians :  "  God  forbid  that  I 
should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 


« 


IIIM  CRUCIFIED. 


19 


)) 


Christ,  whereby  the  world  is  crucified  unto  me  and 
I  unto  the  world." 

These  are  themes  on  which  one  might  discourse 
for  hours,  but  I  must  not  detain  you.  You  have 
heard  enough  to  convince  you  that  when  the  Apos- 
tle determined  not  to  know  any  thing  among  the 
Corinthians  "  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified,'* 
it  was  a  determination  worthy  of  him  as  a  man  of 
lofty  intellect  and  of  enlarged  mental  culture  ;  that 
it  was  worthy  of  him  both  as  a  philosopher  and  as  a 
Christian.  What  else  did  he  determine  but  to  dis- 
close to  the  Corinthians  all  that  was  desirable  to 
them  as  intellectual,  and  all  that  was  valuable  to 
them  as  immortal  beings?  What  else,  but  to  dwell 
upon  a  subject  which  is  inclusive  of  every  other 
subject  worthy  of  man's  attention.  When  the 
Apostle  thus  determined,  he  hit  upon  a  course 
which,  however  repulsive  at  first,  proved  eventually 
most  attractive ;  for  there  is  no  doctrine  which  so 
effectually  draws  men's  hearts  towards  religion  as 
the  love  of  God,  and  there  is  no  exhibition  of  the  in- 
finite love  of  God  so  brilliant,  so  impressive,  so  over- 
whelmingly attractive,  as  that  which  is  furnished 
by  the  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  "And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto 


me. 


>> 


Brethren,  you  will  have  to  bear  with  me  yet  a  little 
longer.    This  is  an  occasion  of  no  common  interest 


2') 


JESUS  CHRIST  ANT) 


•♦, 


'!^!|t 


either  to  you  or  to  me.  I  no  longjer  address  you  as 
a  visitor  and  a  stranger,  but  I  address  you  as  your 
pastor,  as  one  who  has  been  placed  over  you  by  the 
Church  in  the  Lord,  and  who  is  expected  to  watch 
for  your  souls  as  one  who  must  give  an  account.  I 
cannot  but  feel  that  the  responsibilities  which  I 
have  undertaken  are  of  the  most  fearfully  moment- 
ous character,  and  that  unless  I  am  assisted  by  your 
prayers,  countenanced  by  your  efforts,  and  cheered 
by  your  brotherly  kindness,  I  shall  fail  in  accom- 
plishing the  end  which  I  have  in  view,  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  salvation  of  your  souls.  I  may  be 
permitted  to  say  that  I  feel  no  misgivings  in  this 
respect;  the  more,  that  I  possess  within  me  the 
confident  assurance  that  our  Great  Lord  will  vouch- 
safe his  aid  and  presence.  I  will  further  say,  that 
my  confidence  in  the  power  of  simple  Gospel  truth 
is  unbounded.  I  believe  that  in  exact  proportion  to 
a  plain,  earnest,  faithful  presentation  of  the  truth 
"  as  it  is  in  Jesus,"  will  be  the  success  of  a  minis- 
ter's labours.  The  Lord  will  help  us  and  we  shall 
not  be  confounded,  if  minister  and  people  faithfully 
adhere  to  this  apostolic  determination.  If,  in  this 
pulpit,  nothing  is  known  but  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified;  if  in  the  lecture  room,  we  still  know 
nothing  but  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified ;  if  in 
the  Sabbath-school,  superintendents  and  teachers 
know  nothing  among  the  children  but  Jesus  Christ 


J 


UlM  CRUCIFIED. 


ftt^ 


I 


and  him  crucified ;  if  in  the  prayer  meeting,  we  go 
on  thus  cleaving  to  the  doctrine  of  a  crucified  Jesus ; 
if  in  transacting  the  business  of  the  session  the 
elders  determine  not  to  know  any  thing  but  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified;  if  in  the  domestic  circle, 
amid  the  charms  of  home,  and  in  the  sick  room, 
amid  the  chastenings  of  sorrow,  and  in  the  friendly 
visit,  amid  the  hospitalities  of  society,  Christ  cruci- 
fied he  ALL  IN  ALL,  then  may  we  expect  the  blessing 
of  God  upon  this  enterprise.  But  let  Christ  be  for- 
gotten or  even  neglected,  let  us  set  up  in  his  royal 
stead  man  or  church,  sect  or  party,  sacrament  or 
orders,  wo  may  at  once  begin  to  inscribe  on  these 
walls  an  indelible  Ichabod. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  future,  we  have  told  you 
of  our  determination  in  respect  of  the  future,  but 
let  me  not  forget  the  danger  to  some  of  you  of 
overlooking  the  present.  What  is  it  to  many  of 
you  that  in  the  future  Christ  and  him  crucified  will 
alone  be  known  amongst  us?  Sx)me  of  you  are 
aged  and  infirm,  and  you  cannot  therefore  possibly 
enjoy  many  opportunities  of  hearing  the  truth  from 
this  pulpit;  others  are  strangers,  who  will  not 
statedly  worship  with  us;  others,  it  may  be,  are 
about  to  remove  to  distant  portions  of  this  conti- 
nent, and  may  never  again  hear  this  voice ;  and  it 
is  a  solemn  thought,  that  in  reference  to  some  who 
do  not  belong  to  any  of  these  classes,  there  is  every 


'>0 


.lESUB  CHRIST  AND 


probability  that  death  will  shortly  remove  you  be- 
yond the  Sk  here  of  our  influence.  Then  is  it  of 
vital  moment  that  I  should  not  delay  for  even  seven 
days  to  sneak  to  every  unconverted  person  in  this 
assembly,  ccncerning  the  salvation  of  his  soul ;  that 
I  should  appeal  to  you  in  the  language  of  earnest 
and  affectionate  remonstrance  respecting  the  danger 
of  farther  delay.  It  will  be  nought  to  you,  if  the 
most  faithful  sermons  that  ever  distinguished  any 
pulpit  be  preached  here  next  month,  or  next  year, 
or  in  any  subsequent  time,  if  you  do  not  hear  them, 
or  if  you  are  shortly  to  be  called  away  to  God,  and 
unprepared  too.  And  then,  in  reference  to  others 
who,  for  years  to  come,  will  enjoy  the  privileges  of 
this  Church,  it  is  important  for  you  to  remember 
that  in  proportion  to  your  resistance  of  Christ,  that  in 
proportion  to  the  steeling,  hardening  process  which 
is  going  on  within,  will  be  the  likelihood  of  your  re- 
sisting Christ  to  the  end.  In  view  of  all  these  con- 
siderations, I  cannot  dismiss  you  without  pointing 
you  to  the  cross,  and  saying  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  I  feel 
that  of  all  others,  this  is  the  doctrine  which  is  calcu- 
lated to  humble  you,  to  make  you  penitent,  to  make 
you  feel  the  fearful  character  of  iniquity.  I  ask 
yourselves,  indeed,  if  in  view  of  a  suffering  Jesus, 
your  hearts  are  not  melted,  what  other  sight  will 
be  likely  to  soften  you  ?  Not  surely  the  flames  of  per- 


I 


TlIM  CIIUCIFIKI). 


dition !  If  Calvary  will  not  draw  y o^*  to  God,  Sinai, 
I  fear,  will  not  drive  you.  But  I  trust  in  God  that 
there  are  some  here  this  night,  especially  among  the 
young,  whose  hearts  are  subdued  into  tenderness 
and  grief,  who  feel  that  they  are  sinners,  vhose 
spirits  have  been  broken  into  penitence  by  the 
Divine  Spirit  of  Christ,  How  then  can  I  so  effec- 
tually supply  comfort  to  the  wounded  sinner  as  by 
pouring  into  his  breast  the  balm  of  the  Gospel?  For 
you,  the  doctrine  of  all  others  necessary  to  your 
consolation  is  this  doctrine,  of  the  cross;  it  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  and  him  crucified,  that  you  will  find 
ease  from  the  burden  of  sin,  and  with  full  confidence 
in  the  truth  of  the  promise,  I  say,  "  Believe  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  thou  shalt  be  saved." 

O  my  fellow  sinners,  suffer  me  to  bring  you  to 
the  cross.  Will  you  "not  leave  your  sins?  Will 
you  not  forsake  the  world  ?  Will  you  not  abandon 
the  city  of  destruction  and  turn  your  sinful  hearts 
to  the  cross  ?  Will  you  yet  refuse  the  invitations 
of  mercy,  the  pleadings  of  infinite  pity  which  are 
now  falling  upon  your  ears  from  the  Gospel ; 
"  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest;"  "  Him  that  ocmeth 
unto  me  I  will  in  nowise  cast  out." 

Could  I  hope  by  any  additional  argument,  by 
any  further  exhibition  of  truth,  by  any  more  urgent 
appeal,  to  influence  your  minds  in  favour  of  the 


m 


wc 


Ir^ja 


24 


JESUS  CHRIST  AND  HIM  CRUCIFIED. 


Gospel,  I  would  yet  stand  here  for  hours  and  pray 
you  in  Christ's  stead,  "  Be  ye  reconciled  to  God." 
But  I  must  dismiss  you  to  your  homes.  Read 
there  the  story  of  the  cross,  and  if  you  find  your- 
selves still  relentless,  read  it  again,  and  again,  and 
may  the  Holy  Spirit,  for  it  is  his  work,  give  you 
"  Repentance  UNTO  Life  !" 


,ij 


!i 


j;| 


THE  END. 


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